The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-06-10
Ladies' Department.
Front Yards.

of people In mOueraGe CllCuAhoVoHhSoo
who own their houses and small
piece of land about them, with the
fruit and vegetable garden at the
back and front yard next to the
street. The appearance of these
front yards give character to a town
and we'll kept small place is often
the nucleus of general Improvement
for many only require an example OF
what a little care and attention with
small outlay of time and money will
do toward making home more at
tractive, to adopt the Improvement
in their own places; and when once
such an improvement is begun it
will seldom be given up, for the love
of plants and flowers is one that will
grow, and the enjoyment derived
from the care and observation Of a
well arranged and well kept garden,
never ceases.
The tastefully arranged and we'll
cared for grounds of a man in mod
crate circumstances often has a
greater influence on those about him
than the fine estates of the wealthy,
who have the means to hire all the
gardeners and assistants necessary.
Their lavish outlay of money has the
effect to discourage the neighbors
with more limited means, who dis
play even in limited way with only
a considerable expense, so do moth
ing to improve their places.
The desire for Improvement is oft
en- made manifest by vain attempts
at ornamentation, but lack of know
ledge, and one would almost say
common sense in some cases, leads
to the most grotesque and fruitless
forms Of gardening. How often it
is we see, in front yard, exposed to
the blazing sun, piles of rocks vary
ing from circle Of rounded cohbles,
six inches to two feet high, to an ir-
regular pile of iroken rocks. filed
in with soil. anG dotted here and
there with poor, starved and dried up
plants. These are called rockeries,
but what a contrast between these
and the charming little spots found
here and there in our woods, where
piles of rocks are covered with beau
tiful patches of green moss and gray
Lichen, filled in with graceful Ferns
and trailing vines, and dotted here
and there with charming woodland
flowers and shady retreats,
where many happy hour may be
spent, away from the care and hustle
of the world. A marked contrast it
is true, but is it more marked than
the contrast between the home
grounds of the unskilled or careless,
and those of the educated and taste
full plant lovers.
Again, we see in some conspicu-
Gus place plat of land laid out as a
garden, with the surface cut in every
direction by narrow paths, outlining
raised beds of all shapes and sizes,
bordered with o narrow and steep
bank of grass. Here we have the
greatest amount of work crowded in
to the least of space, and very little
that is attractive to show for it, for
every extra walk and raised bank is
an extra care, and every raised bed
is sure to losse most of its moisture
by drainage and evaporation, espe-
cially in the light, porous soil of
many localities, and thrifty plants
will not grow in dried up soil. A
bed cut from the surface of the
lawn, in a retired and appropriate
nook, is far better and more easily
cared for and less conspicuous, if
from any cause it is neglected.
We see more frequently steep ter
raced banks, and wonder why people
will make them, when a gentle slope
would be much more graceful and
easily cared for; they are relics of an
ancient fashion. People do this
because others have done so before
them, and there are not examples
enough of an improved arrangement
to draw their attention. We see
broken and graceless banks in many
places where a few hours or days
time would make pleasing slope
covered with mat of green lawn.
We see, also, small yards filled with
large growing trees, both deciduous
and evergreens, planted so thickly
as to injure each other, leaving no
beauty, cutting off all views, and
burying the house in q dense and
gloomy shade, where sunlight and
air should be free to 60,
Now the question will come, how
shall | 60 to work to improve my
grounds? Many times only a slight
change will work wonders in the APP.
pearance of place, the cutting out
OF few trees, the leyeling and turn
ing over of broken banks and lawns,
with application of good fertilizers
and grass seed, the judiclous 'splant-
ing OF few new shrubs and trees,
the Encouragement of the garden on
an improved plan, the purchase and
use of lawn mower and pruning
81 % mill N or On ali rn n irmnrnuo